Hiezechielis Prophetæ 20
1 Et factum est in anno septimo, in quinto, in decima mensis: venerunt viri de senioribus Israel ut interrogarent Dominum, et sederunt coram me.
On the tenth day of the fifth month of the seventh year, some of the elders of Israel came to ask advice from the Lord, and they sat down with me.
2 Et factus est sermo Domini ad me, dicens:
Then a message from the Lord came to me, saying,
3 Fili hominis loquere senioribus Israel, et dices ad eos: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Numquid ad interrogandum me vos venistis? Vivo ego quia non respondebo vobis, ait Dominus Deus.
“Son of man, tell these elders of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: Have you come to ask my advice? As I live, I'm not going to answer you, declares the Lord God.
4 Si iudicas eos, si iudicas fili hominis, abominationes patrum eorum ostende eis.
Are you going to condemn them—will you do that, son of man? Remind them about the disgusting things their forefathers did,
5 Et dices ad eos: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus: In die, qua elegi Israel, et levavi manum meam pro stirpe domus Iacob, et apparui eis in Terra Ægypti, et levavi manum meam pro eis, dicens: Ego Dominus Deus vester:
and then tell them that this is what the Lord God says: At the time I chose Israel, I held up my hand and made a solemn promise to Jacob's descendants and revealed myself to them when they were in Egypt. I held up my hand and told them, ‘I am the Lord your God.’
6 in die illa levavi manum meam pro eis, ut educerem eos de Terra Ægypti, in Terram, quam provideram eis, fluentem lacte, et melle: quæ est egregia inter omnes terras.
I promised them on that day to lead them out of Egypt and take them to a country that I had chosen for them, a land flowing with milk and honey—better than any other country.
7 Et dixi ad eos: Unusquisque offensiones oculorum suorum abiiciat, et in idolis Ægypti nolite pollui: ego Dominus Deus vester.
I told them: ‘All of you have to get rid of your disgusting pagan images. Don't make yourselves unclean by worshiping the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’
8 Et irritaverunt me, nolueruntque me audire: unusquisque abominationes oculorum suorum non proiecit, nec idola Ægypti reliquerunt: et dixi ut effunderem indignationem meam super eos, et implerem iram meam in eis, in medio Terræ Ægypti.
But they rebelled against me and wouldn't do what I told them. None of them got rid of their disgusting pagan images, and they didn't give up worshiping the idols of Egypt. So I warned them that I would punish them in my anger there in Egypt.
9 Et feci propter nomen meum, ut non violaretur coram Gentibus, in quarum medio erant, et inter quas apparui eis ut educerem eos de Terra Ægypti.
But I did act so I would not be misrepresented, so that I wouldn't lose respect in the eyes of the other nations living near them who had seen me reveal myself to Israel by leading them out of Egypt.
10 Eieci ergo eos de Terra Ægypti, et eduxi eos in desertum.
So I led them out of Egypt and took them into the wilderness.
11 Et dedi eis præcepta mea, et iudicia mea ostendi eis, quæ faciens homo, vivet in eis.
There I gave them my laws and explained to them my regulations so that those who kept them would live.
12 Insuper et Sabbata mea dedi eis, ut essent signum inter me et eos: et scirent quia ego Dominus sanctificans eos.
I also gave them my Sabbaths to be a sign between me and them, so that they would acknowledge that I am the Lord who makes them holy.
13 Et irritaverunt me domus Israel in deserto, in præceptis meis non ambulaverunt, et iudicia mea proiecerunt, quæ faciens homo vivet in eis: et Sabbata mea violaverunt vehementer: dixi ergo ut effunderem furorem meum super eos in deserto, et consumerem eos.
But the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert, refusing to observe my laws and rejecting my regulations, even though they would have given them life. They violated my Sabbaths. So I warned them that I would punish them and wipe them out there in the desert.
14 Et feci propter nomen meum, ne violaretur coram Gentibus de quibus eieci eos in conspectu earum.
But I still acted for them so I would not be misrepresented, so that I wouldn't lose respect in the eyes of the other nations who had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt.
15 Ego igitur levavi manum meam super eos in deserto, ne inducerem eos in Terram, quam dedi eis fluentem lacte, et melle, præcipuam terrarum omnium:
So I held up my hand and vowed to them in the desert that I wouldn't take them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey—better than any other country—
16 Quia iudicia mea proiecerunt, et in præceptis meis non ambulaverunt, et Sabbata mea violaverunt: post idola enim cor eorum gradiebatur.
because they repeatedly rejected my regulations, refused to observe my laws, and violated my Sabbaths, and because they chose to continue worshiping idols.
17 Et pepercit oculus meus super eos ut non interficerem eos: nec consumpsi eos in deserto.
Even so I was sorry for them and I didn't destroy them; I didn't wipe them out in the desert.
18 Dixi autem ad filios eorum in solitudine: In præceptis patrum vestrorum nolite incedere, nec iudicia eorum custodiatis, nec in idolis eorum polluamini:
I told their children in the desert: ‘Don't do what your fathers told you to do. Don't follow their practices. Don't make yourselves unclean by worshiping their idols.
19 Ego Dominus Deus vester: in præceptis meis ambulate, iudicia mea custodite, et facite ea:
I am the Lord your God. Do what I tell you to do. Follow my regulations and make sure to practice them.
20 Et Sabbata mea sanctificate ut sint signum inter me et vos, et sciatis quia ego sum Dominus Deus vester.
Keep my Sabbaths holy so they may be a sign between me and you, so that you may acknowledge that I am the Lord your God.’
21 Et exacerbaverunt me filii, in præceptis meis non ambulaverunt: et iudicia mea non custodierunt ut facerent ea: quæ cum fecerit homo, vivet in eis: et Sabbata mea violaverunt: et comminatus sum ut effunderem furorem meum super eos, et implerem iram meam in eis in deserto.
But their children also rebelled against me. They didn't follow my laws and didn't keep my regulations, even though they would have given them life. They violated my Sabbaths. So I warned them that I would punish them in my anger there in the desert.
22 Averti autem manum meam, et feci propter nomen meum, ut non violaretur coram Gentibus, de quibus eieci eos in oculis earum.
But I held back and did what I did so I would not be misrepresented, so that I wouldn't lose respect in the eyes of the other nations who had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt.
23 Iterum levavi manum meam in eos in solitudine, ut dispergerem illos in nationes, et ventilarem in terras:
However, I held up my hand and vowed to them in the desert that I was going to scatter them among the various countries of different nations.
24 eo quod iudicia mea non fecissent, et præcepta mea reprobassent, et Sabbata mea violassent, et post idola patrum suorum fuissent oculi eorum.
For they didn't keep my regulations, instead they rejected my laws and violated my Sabbaths, always looking to worship their fathers' idols.
25 Ergo et ego dedi eis præcepta non bona, et iudicia, in quibus non vivent:
I also let them follow the regulations they wanted that weren't good; laws that wouldn't help them live.
26 Et pollui eos in muneribus suis cum offerrent omne, quod aperit vulvam, propter delicta sua: et scient quia ego Dominus.
I let them make themselves unclean by their offerings to idols, including their firstborn sons. I allowed this to happen so that they would be so appalled that they would acknowledge that I am the Lord.
27 Quam ob rem loquere ad domum Israel, fili hominis: et dices ad eos: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Adhuc et in hoc blasphemaverunt me patres vestri, cum sprevissent me contemnentes:
So, son of man, tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: You're acting in exactly the same way your forefathers insulted me by being unfaithful to me.
28 et induxissem eos in Terram, super quam levavi manum meam ut darem eis: viderunt omnem collem excelsum, et omne lignum nemorosum, et immolaverunt ibi victimas suas: et dederunt ibi irritationem oblationis suæ, et posuerunt ibi odorem suavitatis suæ, et libaverunt libationes suas.
After I led them into the land that I had promised to give them, on any high hill or under any leafy tree they saw there they offered their pagan sacrifices and presented offerings to idols that made me angry, burning their sweet-smelling incense and pouring out their drink offerings.
29 Et dixi ad eos: Quid est excelsum, ad quod vos ingredimini? Et vocatum est nomen eius Excelsum usque ad hanc diem.
So I asked them: ‘What's this high place you're going to?’ (Even today it's still called Bamah.)
30 Propterea dic ad domum Israel: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Certe in via patrum vestrorum vos polluimini, et post offendicula eorum vos fornicamini:
Therefore tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: Are you going to make yourselves unclean like your forefathers, turning yourselves into prostitutes, acting the way they did with the same disgusting practices?
31 et in oblatione donorum vestrorum, cum traducitis filios vestros per ignem, vos polluimini in omnibus idolis vestris usque hodie: et ego respondebo vobis domus Israel? Vivo ego, dicit Dominus Deus, quia non respondebo vobis.
When you present your offerings to idols and sacrifice your children in the fire, you continue to make yourselves unclean with all your idols right up until now. So should I give you advice when you ask me, people of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord God, I'm not going to answer you!
32 Neque cogitatio mentis vestræ fiet, dicentium: Erimus sicut Gentes, et sicut cognationes terræ ut colamus ligna, et lapides.
When you say to yourselves, ‘Let's be like the other nations, like people in other countries who worship idols made of wood and stone,’ what you're thinking is never going to happen.
33 Vivo ego, dicit Dominus Deus, quoniam in manu forti, et in brachio extento, et in furore effuso regnabo super vos.
As I live, declares the Lord God, I will rule you with all my strength and power, and in my anger.
34 Et educam vos de populis: et congregabo vos de terris, in quibus dispersi estis, in manu valida, et in brachio extento, et in furore effuso regnabo super vos.
With all my strength and power, and in my anger, I will lead you out from among the nations and gather you from the countries where you were scattered.
35 Et adducam vos in desertum populorum, et iudicabor vobiscum ibi facie ad faciem.
I will bring you before me for judgment face to face in the desert of the nations.
36 Sicut iudicio contendi adversum patres vestros in deserto Terræ Ægypti, sic iudicabo vos, dicit Dominus Deus.
In the same way I judged your forefathers in the Egyptian desert after I'd led them out of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Lord God.
37 Et subiiciam vos sceptro meo, et inducam vos in vinculis fœderis.
I will decide about you as you pass under the rod and see if you kept our solemn agreement.
38 Et eligam de vobis transgressores, et impios, et de terra incolatus eorum educam eos, et in terram Israel non ingredientur: et scietis quia ego Dominus.
I will get rid of those of you who rebel against me, those who sin against me. I will lead them out of the country where they're currently living, but they won't enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39 Et vos domus Israel, Hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Singuli post idola vestra ambulate, et servite eis. Quod si et in hoc non audieritis me, et nomen meum sanctum pollueritis ultra in muneribus vestris, et in idolis vestris:
This is what the Lord God says to you, you people of Israel: All of you, go ahead and worship your idols. But after that if you don't listen to me you won't continue to disgrace me with your pagan offerings and idols.
40 in monte sancto meo, in monte excelso Israel, ait Dominus Deus, ibi serviet mihi omnis domus Israel; omnes, inquam, in terra, in qua placebunt mihi, et ibi quæram primitias vestras, et initium decimarum vestrarum in omnibus sanctificationibus vestris.
For there on my holy mountain, Israel's high mountain, declares the Lord God, every single person in the whole country of Israel will worship me. That's where I'll accept them and will ask for your offerings and your best gifts, together with all your holy sacrifices.
41 In odorem suavitatis suscipiam vos, cum eduxero vos de populis, et congregavero vos de terris, in quas dispersi estis, et sanctificabor in vobis in oculis nationum.
When I bring you back from the nations and gather you from countries where you were scattered, I will accept you as a suitable offering to me. I will reveal my holiness through you so the nations can see.
42 Et scietis quia ego Dominus, cum induxero vos ad terram Israel, in Terram, pro qua levavi manum meam, ut darem eam patribus vestris.
Then you will acknowledge that I am the Lord when I bring you back to the country of Israel, the land that I promised to give your forefathers.
43 Et recordabimini ibi viarum vestrarum, et omnium scelerum vestrorum, quibus polluti estis in eis: et displicebitis vobis in conspectu vestro in omnibus malitiis vestris, quas fecistis.
That's where you will remember your bad ways and everything you've done to make yourselves unclean, and you will hate yourselves for the evil things you did.
44 Et scietis quia ego Dominus, cum benefecero vobis propter nomen meum, et non secundum vias vestras malas, neque secundum scelera vestra pessima domus Israel, ait Dominus Deus.
Then you people of Israel will acknowledge that I am the Lord, because I have treated you well because of who I am, and not because of your evil ways and terrible things you've done, declares the Lord God.”
45 Et factus est sermo Domini ad me, dicens:
Another message from the Lord came to me, saying,
46 Fili hominis, pone faciem tuam contra viam Austri, et stilla ad Africum, et propheta ad saltum agri meridiani.
“Son of man, face towards the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest of the Negev.
47 Et dices saltui meridiano: Audi verbum Domini: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Ecce ego succendam in te ignem, et comburam in te omne lignum viride, et omne lignum aridum: non extinguetur flamma succensionis: et comburetur in ea omnis facies ab Austro usque ad Aquilonem.
Tell the forest of the Negev: Listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says: I am going to set you on fire, and it will burn up all your trees, both those that are living and those that are dead. The blaze won't be put out, and everything from the north to the south will be burned.
48 Et videbit universa caro quia ego Dominus succendi eam, nec extinguetur.
Then everyone will recognize that it was me, the Lord, who started the fire, and it won't be put out.”
49 Et dixi: A a a, Domine Deus: ipsi dicunt de me: Numquid non per parabolas loquitur iste?
But then I said, “Oh no, Lord God! People already say, ‘He's just telling stories!’”
